Reformed shopaholic? please can you give me the benefit of your advice

NGlady

Completelylost - deffinatly took no offence there as its something i've been thinking about recently myself. Think I may have to do what I used to do and take a bag of snack - a - jacks where ever I go I think it migt be my major vice, really pee's me off though to think about it, the amount of money I waste on food per month I could buy something lovely

CompletelyLost

Yeah, that's a good idea, and maybe get a refillable bottle for water/whatever so that you don't keep having to buy drinks when you're out. Even if it saves you a few £s per month, that's a few £s towards your Oasis stuff

Anglea

Don't mention Oasis to NGlady :rotfl:

clarab_3

Hi, excuse me copying and pasting this from a previous post of mine

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I wished I'd known that the high from buying "stuff" progressively made me happier for smaller and smaller periods of time, and eventually made me very unhappy.

Thats it in a nutshell. I had £33k of debt and next to nothing to show for it.

Its been a long haul. but I think i finally understand my "emotional spending" as opposed to what I need. Not to say that I dont still spend in this way, but its in a controlled way, as and when i have a little to spare.

Its ugly confronting it, I'm not going to kid on its easy.
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First things first is not to knock yourself about over something you can't undo - you'll only spiral into spending again. Rescue what you can (take it back, cut something else out, ebay) then forgive yourself and move on.

Look at yourself like you would at a friend in the same position, would you beat them up over it or try to show some compassion and help them?

We're always our worst critics, and then try and sooth the hurt and criticism with a quick fix. Be nice to yourself, make a list of things other than spending money that make you happy and try to schedule them into your life - MAKE time to do them. No more quick fixes, you are worth taking time for.

for me its picking fresh flowers for my living room, a nice bath before bed or doing my own nails - treats I wouldnt normally consider myself worth, but dammit I am!

Give it a try, what have you got to lose?

supersmith

Anglea wrote: »

That goodness I was wearing a denim skirt and not something else.

he always takes me to them and always when I'm not dressed

.

Grin, what on earth would you be wearing instead??!!! I'm suspicous now, think we're seeing a whole new side to you Anglea... Only joking, just my sense of humour but that did make me laugh :rotfl:
That craft shop sounded amazing, I can get lost in craft shops for hours and the wierd thing is I don't even have to buy stuff as just looking at everything and wandering round in a daze makes me so happy!

CL that sounds good doing surveys etc for some extra cash

Haven't dyed the dress yet guys so my kitchen is safe for another night... I'll let you know

supersmith

clarab wrote: »

Be nice to yourself, make a list of things other than spending money that make you happy and try to schedule them into your life - MAKE time to do them. No more quick fixes, you are worth taking time for.

This is really true and something that I think I need to remember as well - there's loads of stuff I enjoy apart from shopping and I need to make time to do these things - including making something out of all the crafting stuff I have!

Mags30

Anglea wrote: »

?

Craft shop - DIDN'T SPEND A PENNY. Yes, that's right, no purses needed. Although I could have done, but I realised that I'd only chuck my purchases into my craft box at home and forget about them

Did go to Lidl later and the shopping was much more expensive than I imagined. .

That's what happens to my cosmetics purchases, they just get left there for ages before I get around to using them. I'm trying to use things as soon as I buy them now.

I've always found Lidl to not be great value. If you buy the special offers at other supermarkets things are often cheaper than in Lidl. And I have a particular dislike for W5 branded products.

No idea how many purses I need, food, clothes, cosmetics, magazines/books/newspapers/petrol........

Today's purchase a summer top from GAP. It's royal blue, sleeveless with ruffles on the front €15 reduced from €24.

I've also eaten a whole pack of biscuits today, there were only 8 biscuits in the pack but still, it's not healthy:o

Mags30

NGlady wrote: »

I said Oh a cake for mum shes not eating too well at the moment.

Can't believe my reading my book under my fleece until the house warmed up, went to a two hour nap!!

That's really nice of you and you've reminded me I want one of those JML snuggie blankets.

CompletelyLost wrote: »

NGlady - £6.50 isn't too bad... you always seem to spend a fair bit on food though (I hope you don't take that the wrong way, lol, I don't mean it like that). Could you not try taking a sandwich or something with you when you go out? Just an idea

I spend a lot on food too. I love eating out, it's always part of my shopping trip. Plus when I'm walking round for a few hours I need to sit down for a bit--I get tired and I get back pain sometimes.

clarab_3

supersmith wrote: »

This is really true and something that I think I need to remember as well - there's loads of stuff I enjoy apart from shopping and I need to make time to do these things - including making something out of all the crafting stuff I have!

Something that helped me early on (Im a toiletries addict!) was no more smellies til I'd used the old ones up - I had enough shampoo to do me a year! Made me really enjoy those long baths, especially as they were as good as free. Maybe you could do the same with crafting?

CompletelyLost

clarab - that is good advice. For me the high of purchasing something wears off very quickly... usually just after I've paid and left the shop. On the way home I'm already planning to take half the stuff back. How sad is that?!

I can also relate to having very little to show for my money. Though I've said before I'm not (and hopefully never will be) in debt, just seeing my savings dwindling away to nothing makes me feel terrible.

Ho hum. I've just had a walk to the shop to get something for my mum... ended up spending 50p on two Jordans cereal bars. So much for a NSD :mad: